Toilet paper roll exchange tool

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a tool for aiding in exchanging toilet paper rolls from a holder.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to toilet paper holders. In particular, theinvention involves a tool that aids in installing or removing a toiletpaper roll to or from a holder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Toilet paper rolls come in standard sizes and are typicallypositioned for use near a toilet in a holder that permits free rotationof the roll as segments of paper are removed from the roll. A standardholder includes a spindle or cylinder with a variable spring biasedlength. Each of opposite ends of the spindle has a reduced diameterportion that fits in a recess in the holder. The core of the spindledefines a rotational axis for a toilet paper roll supported by thespindle.

[0003] When all of the paper has been removed from the cardboard roll, aperson must remove the used roll and replace it with a new toilet paperroll. To accomplish this, the person must compress the spindle, i.e.,reduce the length, sufficiently so that at least one of the reduceddiameter portions can be removed from the respective recess. The spindleis then removed from the holder. The old roll is removed from thespindle. A new toilet paper roll is mounted on the spindle. The spindleis replaced in the holder, again by compressing the length of thespindle sufficiently so that the reduced diameter portions may engagetheir respective recesses in the holder.

[0004] A long recognized problem with conventional toilet paper holdersis that it is sometimes quite difficult to manipulate the spindle forpurposes of removing or installing the spindle in the holder. The toiletpaper roll itself may interfere with access to the end portion of thespindle. Even if a person can reach the spindle, it is often hard togrip the spindle sufficiently to compress its length. The problem isexacerbated for people whose dexterity is compromised such as elderlypeople or people who suffer from arthritis or other debilitatingphysical problems.

[0005] Others have attempted to design tools for addressing the problem.However, prior tool designs have not been successfully implemented forgeneral use. Apparently, prior tools either have not been easy enough touse, or have been impractical, too expensive or complicated tomanufacture. Accordingly, there is a need for a superior tool that aidsin replacement of toilet paper rolls in a standard holder, and that iseasy to use, and inexpensive to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The invention provides assemblies and tool devices for aiding inexchange of a toilet paper roll from a holder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0007]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a disassembled toilet paperholding assembly.

[0008]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 1, assembled.

[0009]FIG. 3 is a top view of a tool used to aid in exchanging toiletpaper rolls from a holder.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] of the Invention FIG. 1 shows a disassembled toilet paper holder12. Base 14 is configured for mounting on a fixture such as a wall orcabinet. Base 14 may be attached to the fixture by any variety ofmechanisms. For example, base 14 may have holes 16 for receiving screwsso base 14 can be securely mounted on a wall. Arms 18 a and 118 bproject from base 14. Each of arms 18 a and 18 b have recesses 20 a, 20b for receiving ends of spindle 22. Spindle 22 may also be referred toas a roller or cylinder. Spindle 22 is formed from tube portions 24 and26. Tube portion 26 is partially concentrically received to a variableextent by tube portion 24. A spring (not shown) is contained in spindle22, thus urging tube portion 24 and tube portion 26 to extend, i.e.,separate to the extent permitted. Reduced diameter end portions 28 and30 are provided on opposite ends of spindle 22. Reduced diameter endportions 28 and 30 have diameters that are just small enough to bereceived smoothly in recesses 20 a, 20 b in arms 18 a, 18 b. Generally,the dimensions of reduced diameter end portions 28, 30 are standardlyset at about ⅝-inch.

[0011] Toilet paper roll 36 is a standard item typically including acylindrical cardboard core 37. Core 37 has an inner diameter larger thanthe outer diameter of spindle 22 so that roll 36 can be mounted onspindle 22 and freely rotated when removing segments of toilet paper 38.

[0012] Tool device 39, as shown in FIG. 1, is a substantially rigidplanar sheet. Tool device 39 has a hole 40 which is dimensioned toreceive one of reduced diameter end portions 28, 30, on spindle 22. Thethickness of tool device 39 should be less than the height or extensiondistance of reduced diameter end portions 28, 30 so that reduced endportion 30 may extend through hole 40 of the tool device 39 and intorecess 20 a. It is also important that hole 40 in tool device 39 has adiameter that is larger than the diameter of reduced end portion 30 butsmaller than the outer diameter of tube portion 26 so that when tooldevice 39 is installed on toilet paper holder 12, tool device 39 issandwiched between an inner wall of arm 18 a and tube portion 26. Withthis design, a person can easily grip tool device 39, urge tool device39 toward toilet paper roll 36, i.e., in a direction parallel to therotational axis of the spindle, thus causing longitudinal compression ofthe spindle 22 until reduced end portion 30 is completely disengagedfrom recess 20 a allowing easy removal of spindle 22 and replacement ofthe toilet paper roll.

[0013]FIG. 2 shows toilet paper holder 12 including tool device 39 fullyassembled. Tool device 39 extends beyond the outer circumference orperiphery of toilet paper roll 36. The distal end portion of tool device39 may extend in any radial direction from the rotational axis ofspindle 22. Regardless of its orientation, some portion of tool device39 is accessible for easy gripping and manipulation in order toaccomplish toilet paper roll replacement.

[0014]FIG. 3 shows tool device 39 in a preferred embodiment. Opening 40is provided for engaging reduced diameter end portion 30, as discussedabove. As shown in FIG. 3, opening 40 is a circular hole. However, itwill be appreciated that tool device 39 may have openings of differentdimensions and geometries while still being useful for the same purpose.For example, hole 40 could be square, rectangular, triangular or couldbe shaped according to a number of other different geometries. Theopening in the tool device may also be open at one end. For example, theopening may be formed by two or more prongs. However, the preferreddesign uses a circular hole that conforms closely to the standarddimension of reduced diameter end portions on spindles where the paperspindles are currently used and are commercially available. Hole 40 intool device 39 in FIG. 3, has a diameter of ⅝-inch so it is large enoughto easily slip over reduced diameter end portion 30 while being smallerthan the outer diameter of tube portion 26. Length 46 of tool device 39is preferably four inches, but at least long enough to extend radiallybeyond the periphery of a new, fully-loaded toilet paper roll.

[0015] Tool device 39, as shown in FIG. 3 is generally rectangular andflat. However, the overall shape of tool device 39 may take on anynumber of different forms. The thickness of tool device 39 is preferably⅛-inch which is thick enough to provide sufficient rigidity, while beingthin enough to permit insertion of reduced diameter end portion 30 andsubsequent extension into recess 28. Tool device 39 may be thinner than⅛-inch if the material used has the rigidity and strength to negotiatethe tension of the spring-loaded spindle without comprising theintegrity of the elongate member. Distal end portion 50 of tool device39 may also be adapted to enhance gripping. For example, indentationsmay be formed in distal end portion 50 corresponding to a person'sfingers. Additionally, a second material such as a rubber or elastomericpolymer may be applied to distal end portion 50 to increase the frictionco-efficient and improve grippability. The distal end portion may alsobe molded or adapted into any number of different geometries and shapesthat may enhance handling, gripping, or manipulating the tool.

[0016] Tool device 39 may be made of any number of different materialsincluding but not limited to plastic, metal, wood or composites. Tooldevice 39 may also display a trademark or logo of a company such as ahotel or a toilet paper or bathroom fixture manufacturer.

[0017] Although the invention has been disclosed in its preferred forms,the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein arenot to be considered in a limiting sense, because numerous variationsare possible. Applicant regards the subject matter of his invention toinclude all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations ofthe various elements, features, functions, and/or properties disclosedherein. For example, the toilet paper holder illustrated in FIG. 1 isjust one of many different holders designed to support a spring-biasedspindle, any one of which may be used advantageously with the tooldevice described above.

I claim:
 1. An assembly for holding toilet paper comprising a spindlehaving two tube portions, one of the tube portions being partiallyconcentrically received to a variable extent by the other tube portion,a spring member contained within the tube portions urging the tubeportions to extend relative to each other, the spindle having first andsecond reduced diameter end portions, a base configured for mounting ona fixture, the base having recesses configured for receiving the reduceddiameter end portions of the spindle so that a roll of toilet paper canbe supported and freely rotated as segments of toilet paper are removedfrom the roll, and an elongate tool device having a first end portion, asecond end portion, and an opening near the first end portion, whereinthe opening has opposing edges separated by a distance of at least a½-inch but less than the outer diameter of the tube portions of thespindle, the opening being configured to engage a reduced diameter endportion of a standard spindle for supporting a toilet paper roll, theelongate member having a length that is long enough so that when theelongate member is mounted on a reduced diameter portion of a spindle ina toilet paper holder, the second end portion of the elongate memberextends beyond the periphery of a standard fully loaded toilet paperroll.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the opening is a circularhole.
 3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the opposing edges of theopening are separated by a distance of at least ⅝-inch.
 4. The assemblyof claim 1, wherein the elongate member is planar.
 5. The assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the elongate member has a thickness of less than about¼-inch.
 6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the elongate member iscomprised of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic,metal, wood and composites.
 7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein thesecond end portion of the elongate member is configured for manualgripping.
 8. A tool device for exchanging rolls from a toilet paperholder comprising an elongate member having a first end portion, asecond end portion, and an opening near the first end portion, whereinthe opening has opposing edges separated by a distance of at least½-inch but less than ¾-inch, the opening being configured to engage areduced diameter end portion of a standard spindle for supporting atoilet paper roll, the elongate member having a length that is longenough so that when the elongate member is mounted on a reduced diameterportion of a spindle in a toilet paper holder, the second end portion ofthe elongate member extends beyond the periphery of a standard fullyloaded toilet paper roll.
 9. The tool device of claim 8, wherein thestandard spindle has an enlarged diameter portion adjacent the reduceddiameter end portion, the distance between the opposing edges of theopening being less than the diameter of the enlarged diameter portion ofthe spindle.
 10. The tool device of claim 8, wherein the opening is acircular hole.
 11. The tool device of claim 8, wherein the opening isdefined between two or more prongs.
 12. The tool device of claim 8,wherein the opposing edges of the opening are separated by approximately⅝-inch.
 13. The tool device of claim 8, wherein the elongate member isplanar.
 14. The tool device of claim 8, wherein the elongate member isstamped from a single sheet of material.
 15. The tool device of claim 8,wherein the elongate member has a thickness less than the standardheight of a reduced diameter end portion on a standard toilet paperspindle.
 16. The tool device of claim 8, wherein the elongate member hasa thickness of less than about ¼-inch.
 17. The tool device of claim 8,wherein the elongate member has thickness of approximately ⅛-inch. 18.The tool device of claim 8, wherein the elongate member has a length ofat least approximately four-inches.
 19. The tool device of claim 8,wherein the elongate member is comprised of a material selected from thegroup consisting of plastic, metal, and wood.
 20. The tool device ofclaim 8, wherein the second end portion of the elongate member isconfigured for manual gripping.
 21. The tool device of claim 8, whereinthe second end portion of the elongate member has a surface treatmentconfigured to improve manual gripping.
 22. The tool device of claim 8,wherein the second end portion of the elongate member is configured formanual handling.
 23. The tool device of claim 8, wherein the second endportion of the elongate member has a higher friction coefficientrelative to the first end portion.